Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Comments to Steve Terrell About Gary Johnson (27 Dec 2011)

On 12/27/2011 2:56 PM, Steve Terrell wrote:
> Hi Mike,
>
> I’m a reporter with the Santa Fe New Mexican.
>
> I’m doing a story on Gary Johnson’s expected announcement that he’ll seek the Libertarian Party nomination for
> president.
>
> As state chairman of the NM Libertarian Party, how do you feel about that? I realize there are several other
> candidates, but how would you expect the former governor to do, both in getting the nomination and in the
> general election here in the state?

Sorry I haven't responded earlier.

I'm OK with Gary Johnson seeking the LP presidential nomination. Can't say I blame him if that's what he decides to do, considering that the GOP consistently solicits support in the form of time, effort, and money from its libertarian wing, then tells the people comprising that part of their organization to "Shut up and do as you're told." Those that don't – well, look at how the GOP machine treated Adam Kokesh in the 2010 primary for New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District.

I left the GOP and joined the Libertarian Party back in January, 1994 because of this sort of thing.

I guess that Johnson kept New Mexico in the black for eight years doesn't really matter to most Republicans. So much for their "support" for fiscal responsibility. So the GOP is going with the guy who created the precursor to ObamaCare in Massachusetts instead? So much for their "support" for free-market economics and health-care choice.

Same goes for the Second Amendment – Johnson has never treated gun owners as political footballs like quite a few Republicans (Romney, McCain, Giuliani, Dole, both Bushes) have. Yet the gun vote always seems to deliver for the GOP, and the GOP returns the favor with more abuse. Classic abused-voter syndrome – kind of like how the Democrats treat the gay vote (remember Patsy Madrid's efforts against any sort of same-sex marriages or civil unions back in 2004?).

But the Republicans sure are hot to stomp on Johnson for Gary's stance that the current version of Prohibition against marijuana needs to be rethought, if not scrapped outright. Never mind the fact that over fifty billion bucks are blown every year on it, and it only stops five percent of the drug traffic from producers to end users. Disregard the fourteen states that have set up some form of medical marijuana program through ballot initiatives and referenda. Didn't Obama promise to end the federal crackdown against medical marijuana dispensaries?

Both Republicans and Democrats also seem to be in love with dropping bombs on foreigners, too – especially when it's their guy in the White House giving the orders. That's something else where Johnson differs from both Obama and the "eventual Republican nominee," whether it's Romney or Gingrich.

What about Gary's chances? I think that he's got a good chance of winning the LP's nomination. As for the general election, that depends also on who wins the GOP's nomination to be his opponent. If it's Romney or Gingrich, I think that Gary will get some good numbers.

Mike, you're correct that most gun owners almost reflexively vote for the GOP, mostly because they know that the Dems really are out to get them, if politically feasible. However, some have noted (notably, John Ross) that King George I probably lost his re-election bid in 1992 due to his sell-out of gun owners.

I will testify it was the Bush XLI actions against gun owners – the 1990 executive order banning the import of "assault weapons," his promise to sign the Brady Bill if it had been included in a larger "crime package," etc. that caused me to not only vote for Perot in 1992, but pushed me to switch to the LP in 1994.

But it's not just the specific issues – it's also the attitude of the GOP machine types that anyone who leans libertarian needs to simply shut up and do as they're told "or else the Democrats will _________________." Anyone who balks at that gets labeled as "losertarian" or libtard" – take a look at Free Republic for examples of this.